A Houthi missile attack on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport badly damaged a parked Saudia passenger aircraft on October 8, 2026, disrupted flights and intensified the widening Saudi-Yemen conflict.
The aircraft caught fire after apparently being struck by shrapnel from an intercepted missile or another projectile, according to people briefed on the incident, although Saudi authorities have not publicly confirmed the cause. No passengers were believed to be aboard the plane, and officials had not established whether anyone was injured. The Houthis claimed they had hit the airport with a ballistic missile and warned workers to stay away from Saudi energy facilities, which they threatened to target next.
Saudi Arabia’s coalition said its air defenses destroyed two missiles aimed at Riyadh and another directed toward Khamis Mushait, near the Yemeni border. The airport halted or restricted operations, while Lufthansa, Air India and other airlines suspended flights to the Saudi capital; Lufthansa extended its suspension through October 16, while Air India canceled service through October 10. Reuters reported that nearly half of Riyadh’s departures had been canceled by Thursday afternoon, with additional cancellations expected.
The strikes followed attacks on Riyadh and Abha airports earlier in the week that Saudi officials said killed three people, raising fears that the conflict is increasingly reaching civilian infrastructure.